Parlor bowling-alley.



No. 775,246. PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904. R. B. PHILIPP.

PARLOR BOWLING ALLEY.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 22. 1904.

no MODEL.

gmu n wig INVENTOR wflzz. 26121) ATTOR/V 8 WITNESSES: CTQ

U N 1TED STATES Patented November 15, 1904.

ROBERT ERNST PHILIPP, OF SPOKANE, \VASHINGTON.

PARLOR BOWLING-ALLEY.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 775,246, dated November 15, 1904.

Application filed March 22, 1904:- Serial No. 199,344. (No modeld 1?) mil inhomif may concern:

Be it known that 1', ROBERT ERNST PHILIrr, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of "ashington, have invented a new and Improved Parlor Bowling-Alley,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a device for playing games, especially for bowling and other games in which a ball is rolled along a table or alley.

My invention has for an object to provide a device for playing such games in ordinary rooms and which apparatus shall be capable of being folded up into small compass.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of my invention ready for play. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same apparatus with parts closed up. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the center of the shooting device, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view also through the center of the shooting device.

In the drawings the device is shown in a preferred form as consisting of two main parts 1 and 9., which when folded together upon hinges constitute a casing which may be closed by an end piece 3, hinged to the part 1 and locked in closed position by a hook 1. It will be obvious that the pieces 1 and 2 may be integral and the folding feature dispensed with without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Upon the parts 1 and 2 are secured the parts 5 and 6 of an alley having dead runs 7 upon their sides, if desired, although these may be dispensed with. In this case a strip may be used in place of the dead runs on the alley itself, making it a solid alley, such as is used for playing ninepins in Germany. Either arranged longitudinal grooves 12 and 13 for the purpose of guiding the projecting or shooting device 14, as will appear. From the top and bottom of the projecting device 1% extend lugs 15 and 16, fitting in the grooves 12 and 13 and guiding the shooting or projecting device, but permitting it to be adjusted to any angle relative to the alley. The floor 17 of the projecting device is preferably provided with a longitudinal groove 18 for the guidance of the ball in the initial part of its movement. A piston 19, having a groove 20 in its front end and operated by a rod 21, handle 22, and spring 23, is provided for the purpose of projecting balls from this device onto the alley.

It will be obvious that other constructions may be employed in place of the elements mentioned without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In using the device the pins or other parts of the game are set up in the usual manner upon the end of the alley, and the projecting device 14 is provided with a ball, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4:. The piston 19 may then be drawn back, with the ball and the projecting device adjusted to any desired angle for the purpose of giving the desired initial angle to the ball. The forward end of the floor 17 is preferably rounded, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, so as to be capable of always being in contact with the edge of the alley.

It will be obvious that a game-board of this character is convenient and instructive; that it can be used on any kind of a table and easily stored away when not in use without taking up much room; that it is capable of producing as near as possible in a miniature game the conditions actually existing in a bowlingalley or the like; that the parts are easily and cheaply made and not likely to get out of order, and especially that the projecting device is adjustable so as to give an angle to the ball when projected across the alley.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A game device comprising a casing, guides, means for permitting said casing to be swung to different positions, a piston in said casing, means for forcing the piston lengthwise in said casing, said casing having a grooved floor provided with a curved projection, and an alley having a ledge on which said projection is adapted to rest; said ledge having a depth equal to the thickness of said floor at the bottom of the groove.

2. In a game device, the combination of an alley formed in two parts foldable upon each other, and a frame mounted upon one of said parts and adapted to be received in the other when the parts are in folded position, said framework extending across the alley and having a longitudinal groove in its top and alongitudinal groove in its bottom, with a ballprojecting device comprising a casing having a lug on its top and a ing on its bottom, said lugs being located in said grooves and constituting pivotal connections for the casing, a piston in the casing, and a spring for forcing the piston along the casing.

3. In a game device. the combination of an alley in two box-like parts foldable upon each other, one of said parts having a ledge at its end, and a framework mounted upon one of said parts and adapted to be received in the other when the parts are in folded position,

in said grooves so as to constitute pivotal and sliding connections for the casing with respect to the frame, said casing having a floor provided with a longitudinal groove tapering toward the rear thereof, and having a round end projecting beyond the walls of the casing and at all times, irrespective of the angle of the casing, extending into contact with said ledge, the bottom of the groove in said floor being located in the same plane as the top of the alley, and a piston in the casing having a grooved face.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT ERNST PHILIPP.

Witnesses:

A. M. Fox, L. N. TIGKNOR. 

